While A.T. Still University has waited on and celebrated many milestone events on the way to the Missouri School of Dentistry & Oral Health, the final one - accreditation - is most important.

According to a letter from the university, ATSU hosted an initial accreditation site visit by the Commission on Dental Accreditation, the accrediting arm of the American Dental Association, earlier this week. The CODA committee toured the ATSU campus and met “faculty, staff, administrators, and community stakeholders,” the letter says.

CODA will issue a summary report in 4-6 weeks and consider accreditation this summer.

While the dental school building is on schedule to be ready for students in time for the fall semester, accreditation holds the keys to opening the doors. If the school fails to earn accreditation, the opening could be delayed to 2014.

The letter, signed by ATSU President Dr. Craig Phelps, describes the visit itself as “a very important milestone” for the dental school’s development.

“CODA site visitors asked comprehensive questions, and ATSU faculty and staff clearly communicated the University’s progress and commitment to a quality school of dentistry and oral health on the Missouri campus,” the letter states.

CODA was in the process of responding to a request for comment as of presstime.